The highly anticipated opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games is set to air live on USA at 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday, with an enhanced encore to follow on NBC at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday.
### Day 1
Preliminaries kick off in wheelchair rugby and men’s wheelchair basketball, with the U.S. men’s team eyeing a historic third-straight gold medal in basketball. The women will make history as Sarah Adam becomes the first woman to compete for the rugby team. Additionally, finals in the women’s 50-meter freestyle and women’s 100-meter butterfly will take place. American Ellie Marks and newcomer Grace Nuhfer will be representing the USA in these events, with tough competition from athletes like Carlotta Gilli.
In addition to these events, Marks and Nuhfer’s performances in the pool will be exciting to follow as they strive to secure medals for Team USA.
### Day 2
Day 2 will see the start of prelims in women’s sitting volleyball and women’s wheelchair basketball, with the thrilling men’s goalball prelims continuing. The U.S. team will look to secure a podium finish in goalball after narrowly missing out in Tokyo.
On the track, the women’s 400-meter freestyle S11, the women’s 100-meter backstroke, and the women’s 200-meter T37 finals will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Exciting matchups and the team’s pursuit of medals add to the intensity of day 2.
### Day 3
The action-packed third day of the Paralympics will feature seven finals involving American athletes. Notably, Susannah Scaroni will aim to defend her gold in the women’s 5,000-meter T54, showcasing her impressive skills in long-distance racing.
The men’s 100-meter T38 will have three Americans competing, adding an extra layer of competition among the teammates. Meanwhile, seasoned Paralympian Jessica Long will strive to claim gold in the women’s 100-meter backstroke S8, adding to her illustrious career.
Exciting events across various disciplines promise a thrilling Day 3 for fans and supporters of Paralympic sports.
### Looking Ahead
As the Games progress, notable athletes like Hunter Woodhall and Valentina Petrillo are set to make their mark. Woodhall’s races in the men’s 100-meter T64 and 400-meter T62 will draw attention, while Petrillo’s historic participation as the first transgender woman in the Paralympic Games adds a significant milestone to the event.
Furthermore, the incredible journey of Oksana Masters, who has excelled in multiple Paralympic sports, highlights the diverse talents and achievements of para-athletes. Her presence in para-cycling at the Games underscores the spirit of determination and excellence that defines the Paralympic movement.
